Salli Baltutat taught students in the same classroom for 38 years at Urbandale Elementary School.

She says the school on Bedford Road has been a great place to work with great leadership and supportive parents, setting itself apart from other schools with its incredible staff, message of excellence and meeting the individual needs of kids.

​"This is a real neighborhood school so I’ve had kids, I’ve had grandchildren…repeat people," Baltutat said. "We always have relatives so it’s a pretty close-knit group of people that attend Urbandale.”

Baltutat recalled fun fairs, cake walks and visits from the local fire department, when youngsters could climb into a fire truck. She remembers how all students received bike helmets after a tragic bike accident took a young life, and she thinks about the youngsters who brought her apples on the first day of school.

When she heard Urbandale would be closed at the end of the school year, Baltutat said she was devastated.

"You just never think your school’s going to close," she said.

Battle Creek Public Schools decided to close Urbandale and Fremont elementary schools as part of a larger reorganization plan aiming to improve opportunities and academic outcomes for kids as well as to reduce expenses.

On Thursday, Urbandale hosted a literacy night for families as well as a farewell open house, where people could come in to say their last goodbyes.

Judy VanZanten said attending Urbandale in the 1950s inspired her to go into teaching.

“When I was in second grade here, just loved my second-grade teacher, and decided that was when I wanted to teach," VanZanten said. "And so every year after that through sixth grade, the other teachers would let me go back to her room and help out, and then I did become a teacher and I retired from Lakeview School District."

As a teacher, she said she understands how schools are like families, and that it's sad when they have to be broken up during school closures.

“I think it’s sad that any school has to close," VanZanten said. "I feel bad for the teachers here because I know they’re all really caring, passionate people and the family atmosphere that happens in a building. I mean, I witnessed that in my teaching career, that you feel like a family with the families and the staff.”

Urbandale staff member Shirley Smith said she felt that sense of family during her time working with the elementary school. Her daughter attended the elementary, and Smith has been helping out for years. Her current roles include morning supervisor and food service and lunch hour staff member.

For nine years she made popcorn for the school every Friday as well.

“I have a shirt that says 'popcorn lady' on it," Smith said.

Smith said she simply loves Urbandale.

“They make you feel like family," Smith said. "I lost my husband two years ago and they made me feel -- you would not believe, I meant the support that I got from them. They’re not friends, they’re family. They’re sisters and they’re brothers. Some of them could be your mom. It was amazing.”

She said the school represents family and home.

"It’s just going to be missed so much, because, you know, you get to know the teachers, you text each other sometimes and you Facebook them," Smith said. "It’s just going to be really sad when that door closes next week.”

Urbandale parent Sherina Williams' two sons attend the school, and she wanted her newborn baby to follow in their footsteps.

“I don’t really want them to go to another school," Williams said. "This is just home base."

Williams said she loves the building secretary and the teachers, and fondly remembers school bowling trips, mother/son dances, end-of-year-trips and the annual pumpkin run, which her oldest son usually wins.

Because her oldest son will be entering the fifth grade next year while her youngest will be in first grade, her kids could be split up among different buildings if they stay in BCPS.

“I like them together because Isaiah, the older one, watches the younger one when they go to lunch," Williams said.

Although Urbandale's end saddens Baltutat, she said they know it's what's best.

"The district has to be able to survive and move on," she said.

But her advice to parents and kids who need to move on to a new school is simple: don't leave the district.

“I have all faith in the district. I say don’t be afraid, come back, give us a chance to continue to educate your child.”

Contact Safiya Merchant at 269-966-0684 or smerchant@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SafiyaMerchant